--- title: "A350-1000ULR sets world range record: nearly a day in the sky on the Melbourne–Toulouse route" description: "The Airbus A350-1000ULR has set a world range record for commercial airliners: nearly 24 hours in the sky on the Melbourne–Toulouse route. The achievement is confirmed by the FAI and Flightradar24." date: 2026-11-10T18:02:54.888Z lang: en url: https://xab.info/en/posts/a350-1000ulr-world-non-stop-flight-record tags: [airbus, a350-1000ulr, qantas, project-sunrise, aviation, longest-flight] author: "Alexander Buran" publisher: "XAB.info" --- # A350-1000ULR sets world range record: nearly a day in the sky on the Melbourne–Toulouse route ![Test aircraft Airbus A350-1000ULR for Project Sunrise taking off into the sky](https://xab.info/media/2026/11/10/a350-1000ulr-rekord-dalnosti-besposadocnogo-pereleta/a350-1000ulr-rekord-dalnosti-besposadocnogo-pereleta-1.webp) ## Key Points - The Airbus A350-1000ULR (call sign AIB35LR) set a world non-stop flight range record for commercial airliners, confirmed by the FAI and Flightradar24. - The Melbourne–Toulouse flight lasted nearly 24 hours: departing July 27 at 17:27 and landing July 28 at 09:51, covering 23,155 km across the Pacific, North America, and Atlantic. - The flight was part of the Qantas Project Sunrise test program, requiring a 23-hour mission from push-back to full stop. - 13 people were on board, including Airbus test pilots, Qantas pilots, and an FAI representative. - An additional central fuel tank in the rear fuselage adds approximately 1,000 nautical miles (1,852 km) of range. - Qantas has ordered 12 A350-1000ULRs (first delivery April 2027) and 12 standard A350-1000s, with commercial Sydney–London service planned for late 2027. Airbus has officially announced a new world record for non-stop flight range among commercial airliners. The record was set by an Airbus A350-1000ULR, with the achievement confirmed by the Fédération Aéronautique Internationale (FAI) and the flight tracking service Flightradar24. The manufacturer also revealed details of the record-breaking flight, which was a key stage in preparing ultra-long-haul routes for the Australian airline Qantas. ### Record-breaking flight: route and timeline The aircraft, call sign AIB35LR, departed Melbourne on July 27 at 17:27 local time and landed in Toulouse on July 28 at 09:51. Thus, the machine spent nearly a full day in the air, covering, according to the source, approximately 23,155 kilometers. The route spanned the Pacific Ocean, North America, and the Atlantic: during the flight, the airliner crossed three continents and two oceans, and the crew, according to the manufacturer, observed two sunsets and two sunrises. ### Who was on board and why the test was conducted The flight was carried out as part of the A350-1000ULR test program for the Qantas "Project Sunrise." There were 13 people on board: three Airbus test pilots, two Qantas pilots, five test engineers, two design engineers, and a representative of the Fédération Aéronautique Internationale. One of the program's requirements was to perform a 23-hour flight, measured from the moment the aircraft pushed back from the gate until it came to a full stop after landing. The test confirmed the airliner's capability to perform ultra-long-haul flights without a stopover. ### How the airliner was transformed into an ultra-long-range version: technical solution The A350-1000ULR version differs from the standard A350-1000 by the presence of an additional central fuel tank located in the rear of the fuselage. According to Airbus, this component adds about 1,000 nautical miles (approximately 1,852 km) to the potential flight range, which allows for servicing the longest commercial routes without stopovers. ### What this means for Qantas: Sydney to London and New York The A350-1000ULR is exactly what will allow Qantas to launch non-stop flights from Sydney to London and New York for the first time. The distance on these routes approaches 10,000 nautical miles (about 18,520 km), and travel time can reach 22 hours. The record-breaking Melbourne–Toulouse flight effectively demonstrated that the claimed parameters are achievable under real operating conditions. ### Orders and timelines: when will passengers take their seats? Qantas has ordered 12 A350-1000ULR aircraft; delivery of the first plane is expected in April 2027, and the start of commercial operations on the Sydney–London route is scheduled for the end of that same year. In addition, the carrier has ordered another 12 standard A350-1000s for its long-haul network, which together form the basis of the company's long-haul fleet modernization. ## Fact-Check & Sources - [23 155 километров и почти сутки в небе: A350-1000ULR установил рекорд дальности беспосадочного перелёта](https://www.ixbt.com/news/2026/11/10/23-155-kilometrov-i-pocti-sutki-v-nebe-a350-1000ulr-ustanovil-rekord-dalnosti-besposadocnogo-pereleta.html) - The primary source contains all key facts: call sign AIB35LR, departure/arrival times, crew composition (13 people), Project Sunrise requirements, fuel tank specifications, Qantas orders, and delivery dates. There are no discrepancies regarding the FAI/Flightradar24 confirmation. ## FAQ ### Which aircraft set the record and who confirmed it? The record was set by the Airbus A350-1000ULR, call sign AIB35LR. The achievement was officially confirmed by the Fédération Aéronautique Internationale (FAI) and Flightradar24. ### What was the route and duration of the record flight? The airliner departed Melbourne on July 27 at 17:27 and landed in Toulouse on July 28 at 09:51, spending nearly a full day in the air. The route spanned the Pacific, North America, and the Atlantic, covering about 23,155 km. ### What is Project Sunrise and why was this test conducted? Project Sunrise is Qantas's initiative to launch ultra-long-haul non-stop flights. The A350-1000ULR test was conducted to meet a 23-hour flight requirement from push-back to full stop, validating the aircraft's performance on the longest commercial routes. ### What routes will Qantas launch and when will commercial flights begin? The A350-1000ULR will enable non-stop flights from Sydney to London and New York (approx. 10,000 nautical miles, up to 22 hours). Delivery of the first aircraft is expected in April 2027, with commercial operations for Sydney–London planned for late 2027.